Most footballers are knobs, claims Joey Barton - as he plays the old class warfare card in his latest bleedingheart whine.

Yes, folks, Barton has 'addressed his issues' again and 're-evaluated his relationship with alcohol' once more (when did English people start talking like American psychiatrists?) And in a 'refreshingly honest' interview, Barton has claimed his fellow pros are working-class boys who earn 'obscene' money, buy expensive goods and then 'become so detached from real life it's untrue'.

Tireless Unlike our Joey, who keeps it real by violently assaulting team-mates and passers-by alike. And unlike Blackburn striker Jason Roberts, who has received an MBE for tireless charity work in his father's impoverished homeland of Grenada as well as in his own native north-west London.

Roberts (above) was brought up in a tower block overlooking Wembley Stadium in one of London's least salubrious areas and worked in an office before turning pro.

I once had the pleasure of a long conversation with Roberts and he seemed to speak with a lot of warmth about the footballers he has known.

The majority of footballers are 'knobs' says Barton, the working-class hero.

The majority of footballers are good blokes says Roberts, who must have forgotten his roots.